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1 

BEFORE THE UNITED STATES ANTHRACITE 
COAL COMMISSION 


EMPLOYES EXHIBIT NUMBER- 

WHOLESALE AND RETAIL 
PRICES OF ANTHRACITE COAL 
1913 TO 1920 


Presented by 

W. JETT LAUCK 


On behalf of 


John L. Lewis, President 
Philip Murray, Vice-President 
F. P. Hanaway, International Representative 
Percy Tetlow, Statistician 


John Dempsey 
Thomas Kennedy 
Chris. J. Golden 


Committee Representing 
Districts 1, 7 and 9 


Of the 

United Mine Workers of America 

WASHINGTON 

1920 


13 


•2 










D»' o£ ■>« 

AUQ 24 J920. 




























c< < 


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c 
< 

<• ( 
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BEFORE THE UNITED STATES ANTHRACITE 
COAL COMMISSION 


EMPLOYES EXHIBIT NUMBER- 


WHOLESALE AND RETAIL 
PRICES OF ANTHRACITE COAL 
1913 TO 1920 


Presented by 

.A 

\Y r 

W. JETT LAUCK 


On behalf of 


United Mine Workers of America 


13 A 


WASHINGTON 

1920 







4 * 

•• 















'T ' 







WHOLESALE PRICES OF ANTHRACITE COAL, 1913 TO 1920. 

The following table shows the changes which have taken place 
in f. o. b. mine prices of the principal sizes of anthracite coal from 
1913 to June, 1920. For the years 1913 to 1918, inclusive, these 
prices are taken from the report of the United States Geological 
Survey, “Prices of Coal and Coke, 1913-1918,” published in 1919. The 
prices for 1919 and six months of 1920 are taken from the market 
reports of the Coal Age, which is the same source used in the Geo¬ 
logical Survey report, and the averages are computed in the same 
manner. The weighted average of all sizes is arrived at by weight¬ 
ing the sizes specified in accordance with the tonnage of that size 
shipped, as reported by the Geological Survey. 

COMPARATIVE PRICES OF SPECIFIED SIZES OF ANTHRACITE COAL, 
1913-1920. F. O. B. MINES—NEW YORK MARKET. 


(Unit, Gross Ton of 2,240 Pounds.) 


Year. 

Egg. 

Stove. 

Chestnut. 

Pea. 

Steam. 

Weighted 
Average 
of All 
Sizes. 

1913 . 

$3.50 

3.58 

$3.53 

3.60 

$3.76 

3.83 

$2.05 

2.08 

$1.23 

1.28 

$2.79 

2.85 

1914 . 

1915 . 

3.59 

3.59 

3.84 

2.05 

1.24 

2.84 

1916 ... 

4.04 

4.19 

4.29 

2.48 

1.31 

3.16 

1917 . 

4.52 

4.75 

4.81 

3.83 

2.48 

3.98 

1918 . 

5.04 

5.29 

5.39 

3.99 

3.17 

4.56 

1919 . 

6.29 

6.54 

6.64 

5.24 

3.04 

5.33 

1920 (six months).. 

6.84 

7.09 

7.19 

5.66 

3.20 

5.75 


The next table shows the f. o. b. mine prices of all sizes of an¬ 
thracite coal, by months, from January, 1919, to June, 1920, in¬ 
clusive. The quotations were taken from the market reports ap¬ 
pearing in the Coal Age and averaged by the same method used in 
the Geological Survey report referred to. 

It will be noted that the weighted average of all sizes for 1919 
does not agree with the figure in the foregoing table. This is oc¬ 
casioned by the fact that only certain specified sizes are included 
in the'first table, while the second compilation includes all sizes. 

The weighted average price of all sizes corresponds very closely 
to the average sales realization as computed by the Federal Trade 
Commission. 


3 




















4 


MONTHLY PRICES OF ALL SIZES OF ANTHRACITE COAL, 1919-1920, 
PER GROSS TON (2,240 pounds) F. O. B. MINES, 

NEW YORK MARKET. 

(Quotations taken from the Coal Age.) 



Bro¬ 

ken 

Egg 

Stove 

Chest 

nut 

Pea 

1 

Buck¬ 
wheat | 

i 

Rice 

Boil¬ 

er 

Bar¬ 

ley 

CUlm 

Average 

Weighted 

of all sizes. 

YEAR 1919 












January. 

$6.14 

$6.04 

$6.29 

$6.39 

$4.99 

$3.46 

$2.96 

$2.76 

$2.46 

$1.25 

$5.11 

February.... 

6.14 

6.04 

6.29 

6.39 

4.99 

3.46 

2.96 

2.76 

2.46 

1.25 

5.11 

March. 

6.14 

6.04 

6.29 

6.39 

4.99 

3.46 

2.81 

2.56 

2.31 

1.25 

5.09 

April... 

6.14 

6.04 

6.29 

6.39 

4.99 

3.46 

2.81 

2.56 

2.31 

1.25 

5.09 

May. 

6.24 

6.14 

6.39 

6.49 

5.09 

3.46 

2.81 

2.56 

2.31 

1.25 

5.15 

June. 

6.14 

6.24 

6.49 

6.59 

5.19 

3.46 

2.81 

2.56 

2.31 

1.25 

5.21 

July. 

6.14 

6.34 

6.59 

6.69 

5.29 

3.46 

2.81 

2.56 

2.31 

1.25 

5.27 

August. 

6.14 

6.44 

6.69 

6.79 

5.39 

3.46 

2.81 

2.56 

2.31 

1.25 

5.33 

September... 

6.14 

6.54 

6.79 

6.89 

5.49 

3.46 

2.81 

2.56 

2.31 

1.25 

5.40 

October (a).. 

6.14 

6.54 

6.79 

6.89 

5.49 

3.46 

2.81 

2.56 

2.31 

1.25 

6.40 

November (a) 

6.14 

6.54 

6.79 

6.89 

5.49 

3.46 

2.81 

2.56 

2.31 

1.25 

5.40 

December (a) 

6.14 

6.54 

6.79 

6.89 

5.49 

3.40 

2.81 

2.56 

2.31 

1.25 

5.40 

Ave. for Yr.. 

6.14 

6.29 

6.54 

6.64 

5.24 

3.46 

2.84 

2.59 

2.34 

1.25 

6.25 

YEAR 1920 












January. 

6.14 

6.54 

6.79 

6.89 

5.49 

3.46 

2.81 

2.56 

2.31 

1.25 

5.40 

February.... 

6.14 

6.54 

6.79 

6.89 

5.49 

3.46 

2.81 

2.56 

2.31 

1.25 

5.40 

March. 

6.14 

6.54 

6.79 

6.89 

5.49 

3.46 

2.81 

2.56 

2.31 

1.25 

5.40 

April. 

6.14 

6.54 

6.79 

6.89 

5.49 

3.66 

3.06 

2.56 

2.31 

1.25 

5.44 

May. 

7.69 

7.39 

7.64 

7.74 

5.94 

4.16 

3.06 

2.56 

2.31 

1.50 

6.11 

June. 

7.69 

7.49 

7.74 

7.84 

6.04 

4.16 

3.06 

2.56 

2.31 

1.50 

6.17 

Ave. for 6 Mo. 

6.66 

6.84 

7.09 

7.19 

5.66 

3.73 

2.94 

2.56 

2.31 

1.33 

5.65 


The following excerpts from the market reports of the Coal Age 
are of interest in connection with wholesale prices and are repro¬ 
duced here: 

New York Market (Coal Age, June 3, 1920) — 

“One more announcement has been made showing additional in¬ 
creases in wholesale prices. The demand continues strong with no 
hesitancy in the market absorbing all the coal available. * * * 

Quotations for independent buckwheat ranged from $4 to $5 at the 
mine, rice $2.75 to $3 and barley $2 to $2.50.” 

Philadelphia Market (Coal Age, May 27,1920) — 

“All shippers have now announced a price schedule for the cur¬ 
rent month. The biggest shipper announced prices from May 11 as 


follows: 

Broken . $7.50 

Egg . 7.20 

Stove. 7.45 

Nut . 7.55 

Pea. 5.75 

Buckwheat . 4.10 


_ (Other sizes to remain unchanged) 

(a) No prices given in Coal Age. Next prices shown are Jan., 1920, which are 
the same as Sept., indicating no change in interim. 





































5 


“These are the lowest prices for any Company, the nearest 
other big company being 15c higher on egg, 25c higher on stove, 15c 
on nut and 25c on pea.” (Gross ton, f. o. b. mine.) 

(Coal Age, June 3, 1920) — 

“As to prices now prevailing, some of the independent shippers 
quote from $9.50 to $10 on egg, stove and nut. Usually the higher 
price is asked when the buyer refuses to take any pea coal; quota¬ 
tions on this size have run from $6.25 right up to $7.00. * * * 

No trouble is experienced in getting $4.25 for buckwheat and plenty 
of sales are made at figures 25c higher than that. Rice clings close 
to $3.25.” 

(Coal Age, June 10, 1920) — 

“The biggest shipper recently advised the trade of an advance 
of 10c a ton on egg, nut and pea. * * * Soon most of the other 

producers followed the lead of the big company, a few even putting 
on more than 10c. The following table notes the comparison be¬ 
tween company and individual average prices on domestic sizes: 


Egg Stove Nut Pea 

Company. $7.30 $7.55 $7.65 $5.85 

Individual . 8.35 8.60 8.60 6.50 


“The company price on buckwheat is still $4.10. * * * In¬ 

dependent shippers have no difficulty in getting 25c above that 
price.” 

Boston Market (Coal Age, May 27, 1920) — 

“With the announcements on May 15 and May 17 of the old- 
line companies, that advances of 85c to $1 would be effective from 
these dates, practically every anthracite shipper is now on a new 
price basis.” 

Buffalo Market (Coal Age, May 27, 1920) — 

“The fixing of the price of hard coal has added 85c a ton to the 
wholesale prices of the leading sizes with a ten-cent monthly addi¬ 
tion besides.” 


General Market (Coal Age, June 10, 1920) — 

“The following quotations are from a number of prominent an¬ 
thracite producers for the month of May at the mines: 



Egg 

Stove 

Chestnut 

Pea 

Philadelphia and Reading C. & I. Co_ 

$7.20 

$7.45 

$7.55 

$5.75 

Lehigh Coal and Navigation Co. 

7.35 

7.70 

7.70 

6.00 

Whitney and Kemmerer. 

8.25 

8.50 

8.50 

6.50 

Markle & Co. (Jeddo). 

8.35 

8.70 

8.70 

6.80 

Markle & Co. (Highland). 

8.55 

8.80 

8.80 

6.90 

Pardee & Co. (Lattimer). 

8.25 

8.50 

8.50 

6.50 

M. A. Hanna & Co. 

8.10 

8.45 

8.45 

6.30 

Maderia Hill & Co. 

8.10 

8.45 

8.45 

6.50 

Wentz & Co. 

8.10 

8.45 

8.45 

6.50 

Lineaweaver & Co. 

8.35 

8.60 

8.60 

6.25 

Weston, Dodson & Co. 

8.50 

8.50 

8.50 

6.50 





















RETAIL PRICES OF ANTHRACITE COAL, 1913-1920. 


The following table shows the price changes which have taken 
place since 1913 in the two sizes of anthracite coal, stove and chest¬ 
nut, in most general use for domestic purposes. The shipments of 
these sizes in 1918 were approximately 30,000,000 tons, or about 40 
per cent of the total shipments of anthracite in that year. In pre¬ 
vious years they constituted even a larger proportion. 

The prices from January, 1913, to January, 1920, inclusive, are 
average prices secured by the U. S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, pub¬ 
lished in the Monthly Labor Review for March, 1920. Those for 
June, 1920, were secured from representative retail dealers during 
the week ending June 12th in the eight cities covered by the inves¬ 
tigation. These are the principal anthracite consuming centers of 
the country. Quotations were secured from eight to fourteen deal¬ 
ers in each city and an average computed. 

It may be noted that in Baltimore, Boston, Bridgeport and 
Providence the prices quoted by retail dealers were exactly uniform. 
In the other cities there were slight variations in retail prices. It 
was found that the local custom of quoting prices for a long or 
short ton was adhered to by all dealers. All of the prices are on 
White Ash grade, delivered a reasonable distance, but do not in¬ 
clude extra charges where additional handling is necessary. 

The greatest increases in prices for June, 1920, over January 
have evidently occurred in the New England district, in some in¬ 
stances as much as $2.50 per ton of 2,000 pounds. In all of the 
cities covered an advance in retail prices is shown to have taken 
place. 


6 


RETAIL PRICES OP ANTHRACITE COAL, FOR HOUSEHOLD USE, ON JANUARY 15 AND JULY 15 OF EACH YEAR, 1913 IX) 
_ 1919, INCLUSIVE, AND JANUARY AND JUNE, 1920, BY CITIES. 


• 

o 

C\J 

June. 

13.50 

13.60 

14.50 

14.50 

15.00 

15.00 

12.65 

12.70 

13.35 

13.35 

15.00 

15.00 

8.94 

8.94 

13.55 

13.51 

c* 

rH 

Jan. 

12.50 

12.60 

12.75 

12.75 

i 

12.50 

12.50 

11.54 

11.60 

i 

11.88 

11.91 

12.95 

13.00 

8.23 

8.30 | 

12.45 

12.54 

d 

rH 

July. 

11.75 

11.85 

12.00 

12.00 

11.75 

11.75 

10.80 

10.86 

10.85 

10.95 

1 

12.00 

12.00 

I 

7.68 

7.78 

11.91 

12.01 

Oi 

rH 

Jan. 

11.98 

12.05 

12.00 

12.00 

12.37 

12.37 

1 

! 10.76 

10.76 

1 

11.24 

11.32 

12.40 

12.40 

7.48 | 

7.56 | 

1 

Oi oq 
00 O 

rH <M* 
rH rH 

CO 

rH 

July. 

10.45 

10.55 

10.25 

10.25 

10.40 

10.40 

9.30 

9.29 

: 9.81 

9.89 

1 

11.38 

11.38 

i 

6.05 

6.15 | 

1 1 

9.96 

10.06 

Oi 

tH 

Jan. 

9.60 

9.75 

9.85 

9.85 

o o 

LX LX 
• • 

o o 

tH rH 

9.06 | 

9.08 | 

i 

Oi OO 

lx ex 
oi oi 

10.50 

10.50 

6.11 

6.15 

10.10 

10.19 

1 

| 1917. 

1 (a) 

S 

8.16 

8.31 

9.50 j 

| 9.50 | 

i i 

10.00 

10.00 

1 

8.50 

8.50 

tr- o 

Oi rH 

00 

10.00 

10.00 

i 

5.25 

5.25 | 

1 

1 

| 8.21 

8.20 

• 

ex 

rH 

July. 

1 

7.80 

7.95 

• 

o o 
o o 

00 00* 

• • 

• • 

• • 

• • 

• • 

• • 

7.39 

7.42 

1 

7.49 

7.74 

8.50 

8.50 

o o 

OO OO 

1 

7.73 j 

7.86 | 

Oi 

rH 

• 

7.65 

7.88 

8.00 

8.25 

• • 

• • 

• • 

• • 

• • 

• • 

7.11 

7.25 

1 

7.25 
| 7.50 

8.75 
| 9.00 

4.38 

4.63 

1 

7.63 

7.78 

LX 

tH 

July. | 

7.14 

7.36 

7.50 

7.75 

• • 

• • 

• • 

• • 

• • 

• • 

6.91 

7.06 

' 7.01 

7.26 

7.50 

7.75 

4.13 

4.31 

i 

7.40 

7.55 

Oi 

rH 

- 

Jan. 

<M t> 

CD OO 
• • 

l> o- 

7.75 

8.00 

• • 

• • 

• • 

• • 

• • 

• • 

1 7.14 

[ 7.28 

7.25 

7.50 

1 

7.75 

8.00 

4.44 

4.69 

i 

| 7.73 

7.88 

• 

rH 

July. 

7.28 

7.52 

1 i 

7.50 

7.75 

• • 

• • 

• • 

• • 

• • 

• • 

6.85 

6.99 

7.05 

7.30 

7.45 

7.70 

4.31 | 

4.56 | 

1 

<M |> 

IX 
• • 

Oi 

rH 

Jan. 

7.70 

7.95 

1 

8.00 

8.25 

• • 

• • 

• • 

• • 

• • 

• • 

6.86 

7.00 

7.28 

7.53 

1 

1 

7.75 

8.00 

4.50 

4.75 

7.59 
7.74 | 

CO 

July. 

7.24 

7.49 

1 

7.50 

7.75 

l 

• • 

• • 

• • 

• • 

• • 

• • 

6.66 

6.80 

l 

6.89 

7.14 

1 

7.50 
! 7.75 

i 

4.31 

4.56 

| 7.38 

7.53 

Oi 

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Jan. 

o CO 

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• • 

LX LX 
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• • 

• • 

• • 

• • 

• • 

• • 

O rH 
• • 

ex co 

tH co 
• • 

8.25 

8.25 

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The prices quoted are for coal delivered to consumers but do not include charges for storing in coal bin where an extra charge 
is made for handling. 

(a) Prices not secured by Bureau in July, 1917. 

(b) Per ton of 2,240 pounds. 

(c) Per ton of 2,000 pounds. 





















































































































